Ads
It has been a remarkable year for Catherine, the Princess of Wales. After months of chemotherapy treatment for cancer, she has stunned the world by pulling off an unthinkable coup for the British crown - directly stealing a page from her sister-in-law Meghan's playbook. Through her vulnerability, openness and willingness to share her journey with the public in a profoundly intimate way, Catherine may have just saved the British monarchy from growing Republican sentiments in the 21st century.
In March, Catherine first announced that she had been diagnosed with cancer. Over the next few months, she bravely fought her battle in the public eye, releasing intermittent statements to update supporters on how her treatment was progressing. In June, she penned a heartfelt message describing how she was having both good and bad days as her body dealt with the punishing effects of chemotherapy. Always one to maintain her composure, few could have predicted the Princess's next move to truly connect with people.
Ads
In early October, Catherine shocked the world by filming and releasing a deeply personal three-minute video message, sitting on a Windsor garden bench surrounded by daffodils. With visible emotion in her eyes, she candidly discussed the end of her treatment and her immense gratitude for all the support she had received. As she spoke about the slow process of regaining her strength, many viewers were brought to tears by her raw vulnerability. It was evident that Catherine was undertaking an incredible risk by allowing cameras into her private life and troubles in such an intimate way, but the message resonated powerfully.
According to recent polls, Catherine's brave efforts this year have catapulted her to the top spot in terms of popularity amongst the British public. Most surprisingly however, her husband William lost the #2 position to another unexpected royal - Princess Anne. Anne, who stepped up greatly in early 2024 when both Charles and Catherine required medical leave, took on a significant number of Royal duties and is now viewed favorably by a whopping 70% of UK citizens. Meanwhile, William has found himself consistently playing second fiddle to his admired wife in the popularity realm, coming in third place with 59%.
Ads
While Catherine has blazed a new trail this year for the modern monarchy, some credit is also due to Meghan and Harry, who originally pioneered this style of more open communication back in 2016. From their forceful statements defending privacy to their interview series, the Sussexes were the first royals to actively try and bring the institution closer to the people in a very human way. As 2022 comes to a close, it seems Catherine has taken their lead to an entirely unprecedented level through her vulnerable cancer journey.
The outpouring of public support Catherine received surely warmed the hearts of Meghan and Harry from their Santa Barbara home. Although their popularity has declined since moving to America, young people remain strong supporters - Meghan only trails William by two percentage points amongst the 18-24 demographic. While Harry ranks slightly higher than his wife overall, both still sit in negative territory compared to other royals. However, their trailblazing way of modernizing the monarchy through intimacy likely played a role in emboldening Catherine's actions this transformational year.
Ads
As 2023 approaches, the Princess of Wales's message summarizes her current focus and direction moving forward. Though her treatment is complete, full recovery will take time and she will only return to engagements when able. Most importantly, Catherine expresses a renewed sense of hope and appreciation, choosing to take each day as it comes one step at a time. Thanks to the unthinkable coup she pulled off in such a difficult year, the monarchy's future looks brighter and more connected to citizens than ever before. Only time will tell if the revolutionary changes started by Meghan and continued by Catherine will propel the crown successfully into the next era.
Post a Comment